In 1994, Bernard was hired to be the offensive line coach at Mandarin High School, where he helped produce 3 All-State players for the Mustangs.
While at Raines, Bernard coached eight All-FHSAA players, among those were future NFL All-Pros Lito Sheppard and Jabar Gaffney of the New England Patriots, as well as former Edward Waters quarterback Mack Frazier.
Chief among them are current Edward Waters Assistant Offensive Line Coach Vernon Edwards, Julius Franklin (New York Giants/Orlando Predators) as well as three NFL All-Pro Selections, most notably, Eric Weems of the Chicago Bears, Rashean Mathis of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Super Bowl XLV champion Nick Collins of the Green Bay Packers among others.
In the 2002 season Bernard and the Wildcats finished with a school record 11 wins, won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship, and made the school's first ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) Playoffs.
In his first season as head coach at Edward Waters in 2011, Bernard led the Tigers to their first non-losing record since 2004, going 5–5.